The Hunt

Eighteen

"You won't believe who called," I said as I put my cell phone back in my pocket.

"Suspense is killing me." Jack laughed.

"Remember Caroline McCormack?" I sat by Jack , and rested my head on his shoulder. 

"That  Caroline? Sweet Caroline?  God, you haven't heard about her in ages, since you graduated at the Academy! It will be great meeting her after all this time."

"Yeah, it's great it's she the one in charge of the case, now that Congressman was killed the feds will assume the investigation too."

Jack chuckled "Guess Mark's not too happy about that."

"Not at all, probably this will calm him down. I was thinking, do you think it would be a good idea to invite Caroline to have dinner at home while she stays here? We could invite Mark and Kellie too."

"Sounds good, I feel like seeing Caroline too. We had fun those days, huh?"

"Sure we did! Do you realize we're talking just like an elderly couple?" I teased Jack.

"Very funny, Detective." Jack replied imitating an ancient voice.

"Mommy, Daddy!" Jordan walked to us, his wrist protected by a splint "I have a dis...a dislocation." Behind him, a smiling nurse came, carrying some papers in his hands. 

"He's fine, just a small dislocation. He could do without the splint but Doctor decided to put it just in case. She wants to see him next week, and there's no need to have any special care."

"Thanks Greg," Jack said looking at the nurse's badge. "Do we need to make an appointment?"

"No, just bring him let's say on Friday. Have a good day, Jordan."Greg smiled at us and went back to the Doctor's office.

"Does it hurt?" I asked Jordan as we walked to the car.

"Not that much. I'm hungry, can we go have a pizza?" He gave me a funnily anxious look.

"Okay but with a salad.  We can go see the Wiseguys if you feel like it." 

"Let's talk to them then, it's been long since we did." Jack stretched his arm around Jordan's shoulder. "They will probably be glad to see you again, buddy."

"Sorry, i have to answer. It's Mark." My phone began buzzing."What's up, Mark? Yeah, he's fine, we're going to have lunch now at Wiseguys." 

"Glad to hear that. Look, I've just talked to Kate, she has just found out who this Vicky girl could be. Victoria Marie Reynolds, born in Norfolk Virginia in 1974, and dead in 1997. I talked to the police there, apparently she committed suicide. Her family is still living there, at least her parents do. "

"Do you have to go, Mom?"Jordan looked at me, not too pleased with that."Pick me in two hours, I promised Jordan a pizza."

I heard Mark groaning over the phone."Okay then, at your place at three then? Wait a sec, will you?" I saw Jack gesturing me to tell me something 

"Go, I'll take Jordan have some pizza. It will be some man to man time for us." He whispered.

"Sure? Jordan, don't you mind if I don't go with you?" 

My son shrugged, still not too happy with the idea of me deserting them. I took the phone again "Listen, Mark, can you pass by Wiseguys pizzeria in let's say an hour? We're going there, come with us if you feel like it."

"Perfect, I will see you there."

"See you." I hung the phone and looked at Jack, who smiled at me in a mute response." We'd better book a table while I go home to pick some things. And I should call Caroline too, to tell her I won't be here."

"As you see, Jordan, your Mom works more than a business woman. She should turn into an octopus to reach everything she has to do." 

"Do you imagine me with eight arms, Jordan?" I went on with Jack's joke." I could have two more in my back and two more in my chest."

"Auchhh!" Jordan protested "It will be disgusting "

"But it could be useful too, if I think of it." I insisted." I could answer the phone while I cook something or read a report."

"Ugh, no!" Jordan replied , and I  barely held my laughter back.

****

"Sorry to interrupt your family lunch." Mark said when he arrived at the restaurant "How are you, Jordan? That cast is cool, can I sign it?"

"Yeah!" Jordan exclaimed gladly. "This rocks!" He said taking a look at the signature. 

"Will get you a special honorary badge if you want to," Mark winked at Jack and me when saying that..

"Can I have it, Mom?"

"Sure sweetie, but I will give it to you." I replied smiling at Mark."And now, let's start with this pizza before it gets cold."

There was no mention of the case during the whole lunch, and somehow I felt impelled to ask Mark about what Kate had found out about Vicky. I knew we were close to solve the case and a part of me wanted to do it before Caroline  and her partner arrived. We had got along really well at the Academy, and for some time we used to hang out together , but my policial pride had something to say in this. And he was determined to show the feds we could do without them.